Pulp-forming machine



March 22, 1927., C. J. KEENAN .ET AL LZ-LG'H PULP FORMING MACHINE FiledFeb. 9, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l .f INVENTOR. CHARLES J'. KEE/VAN. EUGENEP. KENNEDY GEORGE H. K/RSC'H.

v BY

M17' IMZTTRNEx/s.

March 22 1927.

C. J. KEENAN ET AL PULP FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9,

Lamm

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY M A oRNEYs.

`3 sheet's-sheet s C. J. KEENAN ET AL.

PULP FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1926 March 22, 1927.

Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

rrsur Erica.

CHARLES 3'. XEENAN, OF PIEDMONT, EUGENE 1. KENNEDY; Ol' SAN FRANCISCO,AND GEORGE H. KIRSCB, OF LABKSPUR; CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORB TO ALASKA PULPAND PAPER COMPANY, A CORPORATION F- CALIFORNIA.

rune-nonnina MACHINE.

Application Bled February 9, 11926. Serial No. 86,972.

This invention relates to a machine Where by articles such as papercups, bottles, ple plates, berry baskets and the like may'be formed fromWet pulp or analogous matemal.

rlhe object of the present in vention 1s to 4generally improve andsimplify the construction and operation of machines of the characterdescribed and particularly to provide a machine which is continuous 1noperai0 tion and in which the pulp is automatically applied to 'themolds, relieved of excess water, dried and finally e]ected.

'lhe invention more` specifically stated embodies a machine of therotary type having i5 an annular rim composed of a series of molds.rlfhesemolds are successively adapted to be submerged during continuousrotation in apulp vat and are subjected to a suction action when acoating of pulp 1s to 2o be applied. rlhe machine is provided with meansfor trapping Water adm1tted to the molds during the application of thepulp, it is provided with means for automatically draining the Waterfrom the molds, and 1t is further provided With means whereby the pulpmay be dried on the molds and automatically ejected when dried.

@ne form which the invention may assume is exemplified in theaccompanying drawao ings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of themachine partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail cross section of one of the molds..

lFig. i is an enlarged side elevation of one of the molds.

Fig. 5 is a. cross-section of valye 22.

Referring to the drawings in' detail and vparticularly to Figsnl and 2,indicates a main frame in which is journalled a. tubular shaft B.Carried by the shaft is an annular drum C, and carried by the drum is aplurality'of molds upon which the pulp is adapted to be formed anddried. Disposed below the drum is a pulp receiving tank D into whichpulp is continuously delivered from any suitable source. f

Before rendering a detailed description of the several parts of themachine a brief description of the general operation will be submitted.

A. continuous rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft B and the drum Ccarrying the molds and the molds are accordingly successively submergedin the pulp tank D. At the time of submersion in the nlp-containing tankD, a suction is applic to the molds and they arc coated With a layer ofpulp. 00 Water enters the molds during the applicay tion of the pulp andthe water is trapped to permit ready removal thereof. The suction isstopped after the layer of pulp has been applied and the trapped wateris then 05 drained off or removed, and the suction is again appliedafter the removal of the Water.

The mold side of the drum is enclosed by a casing or housing E and a hotor Warm air current is continuously circulated through 7c the casing.'lhe suction to which the drying molds are subjected causes the Warm airv to pass through the pulp and the molds and the pulp is thus drieddirectly on the molds and the completed pulp articles are `finallydischarged'when the discharge chute F is reached. The pulp articles arehere ejected by means of air under pressure and are finally removed byan endless conveyor belt Gr which carries the completed pulp articles 30to any point desired.

A. detailed description of the construction of the machine will now besubmitted having particular reference to Figs. l, 3 and ll. By referringto Fig. l it will be noted thatthe drum appears to consist of a numberof sub# stantially square-shaped casings. These casings are particularlyillustrated in Figs.

3 and d. They are indicated at 2 and are substantially square inoutline. The several `casings are connected to form the annular drum Cby means of lugs 3 and bolts 4 and they are cored out to form interiorchamy bers 5 which are intermittently subjected tn a suction action andan air pressure as will hereinafter be described. The rear face of eachcasing is closed as indicated at 6 while the front faces are providedwith openings 7 which are provided for the reception of the moldsgenerally indicated at 8,' there being 10 one mold for each casing. Eachmold consists of a perforated plate of metal 9 which is shaped toconform to the pulp article to bel produced. In the present instance aberry basket is to be produced and the mold or perforated member 9 isaccordingly square in shape and fairlydeep. The perforated plate isprovided with a flange 10 and the flange is held against the outer face11 of the casing by ymeans ofa clamping plate 12 and bolts 13. Theexterior surface of the perforated member 9 is covered with a finescreen material 14 and the pulp is formed on the surface thereof as willhereinafter be described.

The several casings forming the drum C are supported with relation tothe hollovv` shaft B by means of tie rods or spokes 16. The severalcasings are also connected with the hollow shaft through means ofsuction pipes 17 and air pressure or blasting pipes 18, there being onesuction pipe and one air blast pipe connected with each mold casing.

The pipes 17 are provided with valves 19 so that the suction action onthe molds may be controlled and the pipes 18 are similarly provided withvalves 20 so that the air under pressure delivered to the mold casingsmay be controlled. Each mold casing is also casing is also provided witha drain valve f provided With a venting valve 21 and each 22. The valves19, 20 and 22 are identical in construction and they are operated in thesame manner and it is accordingly thoughtthat the detail description ofone valve will suffice.

For instance, by referring to the drain valve indicated at 22 and byfurther referring to Figs. 3 and 5 it Willbe noted that it is nothingmore or less than a two-Way cock. The valve consists of a casing havingan inlet opening 23 in communication with the chamber 5 of the casingand a discharge opening 24. A tapered cock 25 passes through the valvecasing and it is held in tight engagement by means of a spring 26.

The projecting end of the cock is provided with a star gear 27 and meansare employed for imparting an intern'iittent rotary motion to the stargear and the cock 2 5 actuated thereby. Each casing 2 is provided withan extension 28 in Which is formed a trap chamber 29. The valve 22 isdisposed at the lower end of the chamber and the Water collected thereinis automatically drained off whenever the valve 22 is opened. The airpressure pipes 18 are all connected with an annular pipe 30 and this isin turn connected with a radially disposed pipe 31 which enters thetubular shaft B and which is connected With a pipe 32 extending througha stuliing box at one end thereof, pipe 32 being in turn connected witha source of air supply under pressure not here shown. The opposite endof the tubular shaft is connected with a suction pipe 33 and this is inturn connected with a vacuum pump or the like not here shown. The pipe33 is stationary and as shaft B is continuously rotated through means ofa pulley or other suitable means, such as shown at 34, a connection 35is formed between the pipe and t-he end of the shaft B to preventleakage. All of the pipes 17 are connected with the central port1on ofthe shaft B and as this is in turn connected with a suction -pipe 33 itis obvious that a suction will be produced in each casing 2 When thevalves 19 are opened..

The molds 8 are in the present instance arranged only onone side of thecasings 2, but it is Obvious that two sets of molds may be employed inconjunction with each casing if desired. In view of the fact that themolds are placed on the sides of the drum, an enclosing housing is notrequired. That is, the housing which delivers hot air or any otherdrying medium to the molds is arranged at one side only as indicated at40. The housing extends from a point'indicated at 45 to the dischargechute F. One end is connected With a hot air furnace or the like nothere illustrated and hot air is thus continuously delivered to thehousing and is drawn through the pulp and the molds which willhereinafter be described.

In actual operation it will be understood that the drum C iscontinuously rotated through means of the pulley 34 or other drivingconnection provided, and similarly, that pulp is continuously deliveredto the vat D. During the continuous operation of thefdrum the casings 2carrying the molds Will be successively submerged in the vat and as asuction is applied to each mold during the period of submersiona coatingof pulp will be applied. The suction valves 19 are provided with starWheel handles 19a land as they reach the point indicated at 46 theyengage a stationary pin 47. f The pin engaging with the star gearimparts a quarter revolution thereto and the suction valves are thusopened and they remain open until the point 48 is reached. See Fig. l.The coatmg of pulp is applied during this portion of the revolution ofthe drum and a second pin 49 is then engaged which imparts anotherquarter revolution to the valves 19 thus closing od the suctionconnection. A pin 50 engages the star Wheel handles 27 the moment thesuction valves are closed, that is at the point 48 and the drain valves22 are accordingly opened. The Water admitted to the casings and trappedin-the chambers 29 thereof is drained off during the open position ofthe valves 22 and the drain valves are closed when the point 51 isreached. Each casing as previously stated is provided with a venting.valve 21. The venting valves are provided with plungers 21a which areengaged by a cam track 21". This track extends from the point 48 to thepoint 51 and the venting valves are thus tion valves remain open untilthe point 53 is reached. The .valves are here engaged by a pin whichtransmits a turning motion to close the valves. A second pin 55 engagesthe star wheel handles ot' the Jvalves 20. at the same point and thevalves dellverlng compressed air to the casings are thus opened. Thepulp containers are now dry and as air pressure is admitted they are4blown ott the molds and discharged into the chute F and finallydeliveredto the conveyor. belt G which removes the pulp containers fromthe machine. A second pin 56 is engagedv by the star gear handles a andthe air pressure valves are again. closed. The pins and 56 are closetogether and the air under pressure is only momentarily applied. .Thevalves 20 are only opened and closed once during each revolution of thedrum While the suction valves 19 are opened and closed a number ottimes. They are first opened at the point 46 when the molds aresubmerged. They are closed at the point 48 and remain closed until thepoint 45 is reached. They are here opened and remain open until thepoint 53 is reached. They are here closed and they remain closed untilthe point i6 is reached, When the cycle oi operation is complete and anew cycle commences. The air' pressure applying valves 20 and the drainvalves 22 are merely opened and closed once during each revolution, thevalves 20 being merely momentarily opened at the point 53 and thenalmost immediately closed, while the drain Valves are opened at thepoint 48 and are closed at the point 5l. From the foregoing it will benoted that the. pulp is automatically applied during submersion ot themolds, and that excess Water is drained ott1 after the application ofthe pulp. The pulp applied is dried during the passage of the moldsthrough the casing 40, and the pulp articles when' dried areautomatically ejected by means of air under pressure when the dischargechute F is reached. The entire operation is continuous, a large capacityis possible, pulp articles of practically any shape desired may beobtained, such as berry baskets, pie plates, cups, bottles, etc.; acomplicated mechanism is entirely vobviated, as the pulp is applieddirectly on the mold, it is termed thereon, dried thereon, and finallyautomatically ejected.

While certain features of the present indescribed and illustrated, We`Wish it underv stood that certain chan es may be resorted to within thescope of t e appended claims. We also wish it understood that thematerial and finish of the various parts employed may be such as theexperience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or conditionsmay demand.

The thermal-eiciency or amount of heat required by a machine of thisAcharacter is small when comparison is made with other machines. This isdue to the fact that the housing or casing 4() is mounted on one sideot' the drum only. In other words no part ofthe drum entersthe dryinghousing, but it merely runs in snug contact with one side of the dryinghousing, and, as the molds com- ,municate with the drying housing, Warmair is drawn through the molds and the only part of the housing which issubjected to the ieat is that portion which supports the mold. Othertypes of machines have employed a drying housing, but in every instanceof which We are aware, not only the molds enter the housing but also themold supports or casings cooperating therewith.. Such an arrangement isdecidedly wasteful as the entire drum or mechanism becomes heated and iscooled again when the molds are submerged. Heating of the casingscarrying the molds is entirely obviated in our structure and expansionand contraction ot the drum formed by the mold housings is also obviatedthereby eliminating expansion strains and stresses.

Having thus described our invention what We claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent isl. lln a machine of the character described, a moldmounted for movement through a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means forapplying a layer ot' pulp to the moid while passing through the tank bysubjecting the mold to a suctlca action, means for trapping Wateradmitted to the mold during the application ot' the pulp and means yforautomatically draining ol the Water before the mold enters' the dryingchamber.

. 2. Tn a machine of the character described, a. mold mounted formovement through a pulp tank and a drying'chamber, means for applyingthe layer of pulp to the mold While passing through the tank bysubjecting the mold to a suction action. said mold having a trap chamberformed therein for the collection of Water admitted during theapplication of the pulp, a drain valve in communication With the trapchamber and means for automatically maintaining the valve open for apredetermined period before the mold enters the drying chamber to drainofi' the Water collected in the trap.

3. Tn a machine of the character described, a mold mounted tor movementthrough a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means for applying a layer ofpulp to the mold while passing through the tank by subjecting the moldto a suction action, said mold having a trap chamber formed therein forthe collection of water admitted during the application of the pulp, adrain valve in communication with the trap chamber, means fordiscontinuingthe suction action when the coating of pulp has beenapplied, `means for automatically opening the drain valve when thesuction ceases to permit the water in the trap to drain away from themold, means for automatically closing the valve after the water has beendrained otf and means for automatically subjecting the mold to a suctionaction when it enters the drying chamber.

4. In a machine of the character described, a mold mounted for movementthrough a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means for applying a layer ot'pul to the mold while passing through the tan by subjecting the mold toa suctlon action, said mold havmg a trap chamber formed therein for thecollection of water admitted during the application ofthe pulp, a drainvalve 1n communication with the trap chamber. means or discontinuing thesuction action when the coating of pulp has been applied, means forautomatically opening the drain valve when the suction ceases to permitthe water in the trap to drain away from the mold, means forautomatically closing the valve after the water has been drained off,means for automatically subjecting the mold to a suction action when itenters the drying chamber,

and means for automatically ejecting the dried pulp when the mold leavesthe drying chamber.

5. In a machine of the character described, a mold mounted for movementthrough a pulp tank and a drying chamber, means for applying a layer otpulp to the mold while passing through the tank by subjecting the moldto a suction action, said mold havmg a trapchamber formed therein forthe collec-l tion of water admitted during the application of the pulp,a drain valve in communication with the trap chamber, means fordiscontinuing the suction action when the coating of pulp has beenapplied, means for automatically opening the drain valve when thesuction ceases to permit the water in the trap to drain away from themold, means for automatically closing the valve after the water has beendrained o, means for automatically subjecting the mold to a suctionaction when it enters the drying chamber, and means for admitting airunder pressure. to the mold when it leaves the drying-chamber to ejectthe dried pulp.

6. In a machine of the character described a continuously rotatingmember, a plurality of molds mounted thereon, a pulp containing tank inwhich the molds are successively submerged during rotationY of themember, means whereby each mold is subjected to a suction action whilesubmerged to apply a coating of pulp, means for trapping water enteringthe molds during the application of the pulp, means for automaticallydraining off the water, a drying chamber cooperating with the rotarymember and the molds carried thereby towhichdry warm air is admitted,means for maintaining a suction on the molds after the water has beendrained olf and while the molds are passing through the drying chamberand means for automatically removing the pulp' when dried.

7: In a machine 0f the character dcscribed, a drum consisting 'of aplurality of connected housings, each housing having a trap chamberformed therein, a mold carried by each housing, a suction pipe and anair pressure pipe connected with each housmg, a valve on each pipe, adrain valve in 'communication with each trap chamber` means fortransmitting a continuous rotary movement to the drum, a pulp tankcooperating with the drum and in which the housings carrying the moldsare successively submerged during the continuous rotation of the drum, ahousing cooperating with the drum to which warm dry air is delivered, aventing valve cooperating with each housing and mold, means forautomatically opening the valves on the suction pipes when the molds aresubmerged to permit a coating of pulp to be a plied to each mold, meansfor automatical y closing said valves when the pulp is applied, meansfor automatically opening the venting valves and the drain valves topermit water which has ent/ered the housings during the application ofthe pulp to be drained olf, means for closing said valves after thewater is drained ofi', means for again opening the suction valves whenthe molds enter the drying housing, means for again closing the suctionvalves 110 when the pulp is dried and means for momentarily opening thevalves on the air pressure pi es to cause automatic ejection ot the driepulp.

8. In a machine of the character de- 115 scribed, a housing consistingof interspaced side walls, end walls and a top wall, one of the sidewalls having an opening formed therein for the reception of a mold, anextension on the lower end of the side and 120 end walls forming a trapchamber and a drain valve in communication with the chamber.

9. In a machine of the character described, a housing consisting ofinterspaced 125 side walls, end Walls and a ton wall, one of the sideWalls having an opening formed therein for the reception of a mold, aneX- tension on the lower end of the side and end walls forming a trapchamber and a 130 drain valve 'in communication with the chamber, asuction pipev and an air pressure pipe'in communication with thechamber,

a valve on each pipe, and means for auto- 5 matically opening andclosing said valve and also the drain valve.

10. In a machine of the character described, a continuously rotatingdrum, a plurality of molds mounted on one side thereof, means forapplying pulp to said molds 'and 10 a channel-shaped housing arranged onone side of the drum and in communication with the molds to deliver hotair thereto.

CHARLES J. KEENAN. EUGENE P. KENNEDY. GEORGE H. KIRSCH.

